SHILLONG: PHE Minister Prestone Tynsong has inaugurated an eco-friendly crematorium in a village under the Seng Khasi Raid Nongkrem.
The crematorium at Kharbuli village has been named after a local green crusader, Kambel Shullai, who was a school dropout and is credited for inventing low-cost eco-friendly crematorium that uses less wood.
The Rs 25-lakh (Late) Shri Kambel Shullai Eco-Friendly Crematorium, inaugurated on Saturday, was built with assistance from the Department of Forest and Environment for the year 2014-2015.
Tynsong said when he was the forest and environment minister, the department planned to start 25 eco-friendly crematoriums every year.
O.R Challam, president of Sein Raij Jowai, said there are 48 crematoriums in and around Khasi-Jaintia Hills. Some of the crematoriums were constructed with assistance from MLA and MP schemes.
According to Challam, there is a need for more crematoriums as the population is increasing while the size of land remains the same.
Blacktopped road
In Nongpoh, the minister inaugurated a black-topped road connecting Umsning and Umsaitsning.
The 2-km road has been constructed under the general scheme at a cost of Rs 90 lakh.
Tynsong lauded local legislator Celestine Lyngdoh for bringing about development in the constituency despite being a first-time MLA.
“Lyngdoh is the pillar of Ri Bhoi district and the tie-beam of the state of Meghalaya,” Tynsong said.
